Use of preoperative ultrasonography as guidance for neck dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Preoperative neck ultrasonography (US) may detect nodal metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) but its utility in detecting metastases at specific neck subsites and levels is not known. We therefore evaluated preoperative US in detecting cervical metastases of PTC according to neck subsites and levels.


METHODS
Preoperative US was performed in 133 new patients to detect metastases at three central cervical subsites and five lateral cervical levels. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy and bilateral central neck dissection. Thirty-four patients with lateral nodal metastases underwent modified radical neck dissection.


RESULTS
Lymph node metastases to the central and lateral cervical compartments were identified in 57.9% and 25.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of US for detecting central nodal metastasis were 61.0% and 92.8%, respectively. In the lateral neck, US detected non-palpable lymph node metastases in 6 of 34 patients (17.6%). Overall, US was >85.0% specific at all cervical subsites and levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative US may detect cervical metastases of PTC and may assist in determining the necessity and extent of neck dissection in PTC patients.
Roh
Jong-Lyel
JL
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. rohjl@amc.ac.kr
Park
Jae-Yong
JY
Kim
Jin-Man
JM
Song
Chang-Jun
CJ
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography